Quotes
We’re seeing a gulf between the US and Europe the likes of which we haven’t seen since before the second world war,
Dan Sabbagh, the Guardian’s defence and security editor, tells Hannah Moore
100%, yeah. It's part of the job.”
At the prospect of going to Ukraine, Highlander Wilson, from Bradford, said
The reaction force here are absolutely ready and we’ll always present our commanders with options. We’re able to project at pace and we [and the other nations] are ready.”
He addedI’m absolutely certain that UK defence is in a position to lead whatever force would be required.”
He saidIn terms of preparation, my brigade is ready,
Watson said
NATO must, and is, ready to meet any threat,
added Lieutenant Colonel Harry WallerBoth drones had explosive charges on board, which were destroyed upon impact with the ground,
Bucharest saidEurope, stand up and start to take this seriously and recognise that this is not a U.S. national priority.
The message ... he said, was
You are going to lead this. So step up and do it,
Donald Trump's team has turned around to Starmer and said ... he suggested
We do not plan to send Polish soldiers to the territory of Ukraine,
Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk told reporters
For example, a recent poll in Germany revealed that a staggering 59% of the public would support a deployment of the Bundeswehr, together with other European troops, to uphold a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia,
German think tank SWP said, but not without a US backup
Do you involve the Turks? Turkey is a NATO country, and maybe they could provide the numbers. Russians may find that tolerable,
Freedman saidBy summer, NATO will communicate capability targets to the individual governments. [German news magazine] Spiegel reported in June that Germany will likely need 'upward of 272,000 troops' to implement the plans,
added LossIt's early days. There can be no such force without a sustainable deal,
Lawrence Freedman, an eminent military historian and strategist, told DWBoots on the ground face a threat. Countries that will deploy them also face threats, especially hybrid threats or even assassinations,
added LossThe dilemma the Europeans face is: Where do they get those troops from? Pulling [them] from the border with Russia makes them vulnerable,
Rafael Loss, an expert on security affairs and a fellow with the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), told DWFor every soldier, you need one in training and another recuperating, so my rough assessment is that overall you need at least 100,000 troops,
said FreedmanThe end of this war, when it comes, cannot merely become a temporary pause before [Russian President Vladimir] Putin attacks again,
added StarmerThe Bundeswehr’s current size is 181,000, with a pre-2022 goal to grow to 203,000 [by] 2031,
he saidAlmost all European states reject such a mission without US participation as too risky. However, they could imagine participating if the US decided to do so. A British-French leadership role is not enough for most Europeans,
it said